Method of forming lever open containers



1946- J. E. SOCKE METHOD OF FORMING LEVER OPEN CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10 1941 INVENTOR.

' Feb. 5, 1946. J. E. SQCKE 2,394,019

METHOD OF FORMING LEVER OPEN CONTAINERS Fil'ed Dec. 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A -r ToclvEY s Patented Feb. 1946 METHOD OF FORMING LEVER OPEN CONTAINERS John'E. Socke, Pelham Manor, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 10, 1941, Serial No. 422,430

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of preparing flat container body blanks as an incident to the manufacture of pry-off lever type cans or containers and has particular reference to a method of cutting an opening in a container body blank adjacent an edge thereof, forming the cut blank into tubular shape with a marginal edge part of the formed body including the opening and then drawing the body wall outwardly and downwardly into an integrally spaced annular collar member having an opening for the reception of a lifting or prying-off lever. This invention is particularly directed to producing a container of the type disclosed in my copending United States application, Serial Number 422 429, filed December 10, 1941, and entitled Lever open container.

An object of the invention is the provision of a method of preparing container bodies of pry-1 ofi lever style cans-wherein an opening is cut or pierced in a flat container blank which then is formed into a tubular body having an annular spaced wall which includes an opening suitable for hingedly carrying a pry-off cover removing lever.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a method of preparing containers from body blanks for pry-01f lever cans wherein the container blank prior to being formed into tubular shape and prior to having opposite ends joined in a side seam, is cut or pierced adjacent an edge of the blank and after the body is formed with its side seam made secure the body end is edge curled and turned outwardly and downwardly, drawing the body wall with the cut opening into a closed and hollow surrounding collar member which is parallel with the body wall and in which a pry-off lever may have a hinging connection for prying oiT a cover used for closing the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. a

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container body blank having an opening adjacent one edge thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section of apparatus parts for cutting or piercing the opening in the blank of Fig. 1 as one step in the embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a container body mechanism for effecting a further step in the method of this invention and showing a body being formed into tubular shape;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pry-off lever type can having a body made from a blank prepared in accordance with the method steps of the instant invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the can as taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary views in section of suitable apparatus parts for performing other steps in the embodiment of the invention.

In the instant invention the body is formed I from a previously prepared blank which for the purpose of illustration comprises a substantially rectangular can body blank. Such a blank is shown in Fig. 1 as being formed with suitable notches and end hooks which are bent in opposite directions from the plane of the blank. The end hooks are interengaged in the usual manner to provide "the side seam, as shown in .Fig. 3 after which a combined curling and drawing action producesthe container shown in'Fig. 5.

The plain can body blank A first is subjected to a piercing step as in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. In this step the blank has an opening of a desired outline cut or pierced in a definite relation to one of the edges (Fig. 1), that subsequently will form the top of the can. The pierced can body blank is then in condition for forming into tubular shape and for joining of its opposite hooked edges in a conventional, longitudinal side seam.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 4 may be employed for forming the can blank into its tubular shape. The pierced blank is fed along a. conveyor and into a pair of feed rolls which direct it against a forming block in the usual manner. This shapes the blank which then passes around a forming horn while it is held on the horn by circumferential guides. The tubular body then is moved longitudinally along the forming horn to subsequent work stations wherein the interlocking of the end hooks and the soldering thereof may take place. This is a conventional forming step.

The completely formed tubular can body with its closed side seam (Fig. 3) is now in condition for the next step of reshaping. The end of the body which is adjacent the pierced opening is collar member.

end part of the body wall, sucha part being turned. 7

inside out as it flows into an integral outer spaced wall or hollow collar member. The previously cut opening (Fig. 6) is in this collar member and its shape and size are substantially unaltered.

Following the formation of the hollow collar member, a bottom end member is secured .to the can. body in the usual manner'and a suitable pryofl lever may be inserted into the opening in the After the can is filled, a slip type cover may beapplied over the collar to seal the mouth of the can.

Such a can (Fig. 5) comprises a tubular body H having a bottom end l2 which is secured to the body in'a'usual end seam l3. Thev opposite edges of the tubular body are joined together in a lock and lap side seam as at l4.

The body I I of the can is formed from a blank A (Fig. 1) which is prepared in the usual manner on standard can making machinery. The blank is formed with notches l5, l6 and end hooks ll, l8, the hooks being bent in opposite directions from the plane of the body blank. These hooks when interengaged form the lock and lap side seam l4.

The can body blank A (Fig. 1) prior to being formed into tubular shape has an opening I!) pierced or cut through the blank stock. Ultimately, this opening appears in the outer spaced wall or collar member of the finished container. The opening l9 preferably is rectangular in outline having a slotted extension 22 at one corner.

The principal parts of one form of apparatus for cutting or piercing the opening is in the blank A is illustrated in Fig. 2. Such an apparatus includes a horizontally disposed die plate 23. The fiat blanks A are brought into a definite position on the die plate. The opening l9 which is cut in this apparatus preferably is located midway between the hooked edgesof the blank and is adjacent a blank edge 24.

A punch member (Fig. 2) of the piercing apparatus is disposed above the die plate 23 and above the positioned blank. Member 25 carries a punch 28 which cooperates with the edges of a die opening 21 formed in the die plate. The punch 26 passes down through the blank stock and into the opening 21 in stamping the opening I9 in the blank A.

In the body forming operation the stamped body blank A preferably is fed endwise by means of a conveyor belt 28 over a bracket 29 and between feeding rollers 32, 33 (Fig. 4). These rollers are preferably formed of flexible material,

such as rubber or the like, to permit passage of the end hooks l1, l8 without distortion between the rollers. The rollers are driven continuously at ahigh rate of speed in any desirable manner, either independently of or in timed relation with a pulley 34 over which the conveyor belt 28 passes.

When the forward end of the blank A is drawn through the rapidly rotating rollers 32, 33, it on gages a forming block 35 adjustably held on the upper surface of the bracket 29 by a bolt 36. The blank A is given a suitable bend by cooperation of the rollers 32, 33 and the forming block 35, this being a usual body forming operation. The

nated broadly by the numeral 43.

' curving blank thereafter passes around a hori zontal forming horn 31 which issupported above the bracket 29.

A pair of wings or guides 38, 39 are pivoted on a shaft 42 extending longitudinally over the forming horn 31.. Such a shaft may be mounted at its ends in supports extended from the main frame ofthe apparatus, the latter being desig- The guides 38, 39 extend partially around the horn 31 and form a confining space for the blanks as they move up and over the horn from the forming rollers 32, 33. v

The formed blanks A, positioned on the horn 31, are moved longitudinally of the horn by means of feed fingers, carried by feed bars 45 which slide in grooves in the forming horn. The blanks usually are fed intermittently along the horn to subsequent work stations where the edge'hooks I1 and N! are interlocked and bumped in theconventional manner. bumped edges are soldered to provide the side seam l4. Theblank A has now become a. tubular can body as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to produce a smooth uninterrupted mouth edge On the upper end of the can and to bring the opening IS in a surrounding outer spaced body wall (Figs. 5 and 6), the can body of Fig. 3 is subjected to a reshaping operation as will be explained in detail. 7

The end 24 of the tubular body which is stamped with the opening I9 is positioned in suitable die forming apparatus. Fig. 7 shows this perforated end portion of the tubular body II as it is engaged by an inner reshaping die part 46. The upper edge of the can body in this position is disposed Just below a rounded annular channel 41 formed on the innerdie part.

The die part 46 is surrounded by an outer reshaping die part 48. The parts when thus combined form an annular recess or groove 49. As the inner and outer die parts move relative to the can body II the upper edge of the body passes into the recess 49, the body edge turning outwardly and downwardly in the channel 41 thus producing a reenforcing edge curl 52 (Fig. 8).

Continued relative movement between the can body and the inner and outer die parts forces the body which is disposed adjacent the curl 52, around the channel 41. The curl thereupon'is pushed down through the forming groove 49 as the from its inner wall position into an outer wall position. In its outer position, the opening is adapted for the reception of a lever opener, as

hereinbefore explained.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the steps of the process described and their order of accomplishment without departing from-the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its ma terial advantages, the process hereinbefore de- For many types of cans the scribed being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A method of making containers, which comprises cutting an opening in aflat container blank along a marginal portion thereof, forming the said blank into a tubular container body with the marginal portion containing the opening disposed at one end of the body, longitudinally compressing and contracting the end of the body containing the opening to turn the outer edge of the body outwardly and thence inwardly toward the body side wall to produce an outwardly extending reenforcing edge curl on the body, and further longitudinally compressing and contacting the end of the collar flange including said opening in an interbody in the same direction whileconfining said edge curl to reshape the body by moving said edge curl inwardly along the side of the body wall while maintaining the dimensions of said opening substantially unchanged, whereby to produce an outer flat collar flange surrounding said body in spaced and substantially parallel relation thereto, said mediate part thereof and terminating in said edge curl.

2. The method of making containers, compris ing first longitudinally compressing and contract ing an end of a tubular container body having an opening therein to turn the end of the body outwardly and thence inwardly toward the body side wall to produce an outwardly extending reenforc ing annular edge curl on the body, and then' fur ther longitudinally compressing and contracting said end of the body in the same direction to proe duce a collar flange while confining said edge can to reshape the body by moving said edge curl inwardly along the side of the body wall to position said opening in an intermediate part of the collar flange while maintaining the dimensions of said opening and the configuration of said edge curl substantially unchanged, whereby to produce said outer collar flange surrounding said body in spaced and substantially parallel relation thereto.

JOHN E. SO. 

